Join UNESCO, UN-Habitat, the Government of Ireland, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Global Ecovillage Network, the United Cities and Local Governments, the American Planning Association and the International Council on Monuments and Sites for an exchange of knowledge and celebration focusing on ‘implementing SDG 11.4 through Local Voices and Global Agendas for Cultural & Natural Heritage,’ a special event to be held in parallel to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).

The event will bring together both local (US) and international stakeholders active in the protection of the world’s natural and cultural heritage, illustrating the vital connections between integrated heritage protection and sustainable development. Through speakers’ interventions and poster presentations, the event will also showcase exemplary efforts on how SDG11, the Urban Goal, can be implemented from the perspective of 11.4. The UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) will be convening in New York City on July 9-18, 2018 to undertake their annual review of progress made on Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, under the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.”

The HLPF 2018 will also review SDG11: this is where the UN has explicitly recognized the fundamental role of culture and heritage in sustainable development, i.e. Target 11.4 to “protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage” in order to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Both cultural and natural heritage sites, while under immense pressure from the impacts of urbanization, climate change and degradation due to other natural and human factors, play a crucial role supporting local economies, livelihoods, and quality of life in human settlements.